Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Gutierrez.
Jonathan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Started messing with casting resin in 2016. Was working at a shooting range and thought about casting ammunition in an art form. Tried selling it on eBay and someone actually bought it. The light bulb went on and I started making different kinds of pieces with many different layouts. Slowly and surely I started learning social media ie IG since I already knew how to work FB although it is still a learning process.
Started selling to small shops locally in and around LA, Orange County. Started selling on FB groups and Instagram posts. Launched my own website which was and still is hard to learn and run and In 2017 I decided to make it an actual business with all the potential, growth and the many clients I have met through sales and social media.
Crafted Ballistics was established in 2017. Since then I have met many different manufacturers, met new friends and had many doors open up for Crafted Ballistics and see the potential for many more to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Never, learning how to open, operate and run a small business is never a smooth road especially if I am doing EVERYTHING myself from marketing, advertising, shipping, packaging, customer service, answering phone calls, responding to emails, creating my pieces from brainstorming from start to the end product. Smooth road, not for me.
Crafted Ballistics – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Crafted Ballistics. I make handcrafted ammunition displays and paperweights. I hope I’m known for making some of the coolest resin pieces that have been cast with ammunition. Known for that company on IG that has some cool ammunition from hard to get types and some of the most commonly used today in our military branches as well as recreational sports shooting/hunting.
What I am most proud of as a company? Honestly having a company which is still hard and a learning process, being able to hold up as far as I have been. I hope I am able to continue this as long as I can regardless if customers decide to purchase my art or just appreciate it for what it is. I can say what sets me apart from others is honestly my customer service.
Being in retail most of my life growing up I’ve learned that without customers you aren’t a company. They are the foundation that holds you up and keeps you in business. They are my motivation. You be honest, fair and communicate with your clients, you will have them for a lifetime. That’s what sets me apart.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career as far as Crafted Ballistics is going through all the paperwork in establishing it, meeting with my CPA and actually launching my very own website is a big accomplishment for me and that is what I am proud of. Doing something I was afraid to do, getting it done and again still learning many things as the business continues to grow.
Pricing:
- Prices vary starting from $50 on up
- Custom orders start from $85 on up
Contact Info:
- Address: 10440 Beach Blvd #826 Stanton CA 90680
- Website: www.craftedballistics.com
- Phone: 3237177077
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @crafted_ballistics
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/craftedballistics
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